19 March 1944
A battle damaged radio room position on a B-17 Flying Fortress of 100th BG. A direct hit by an 88mm killed the radio operator in Miss Irish , flown by John P "49 Missions" Gibbons.
Not yet known
V-Weapon sites in France are the targets for this mission. A combined force of 193 B-17s of 1st and 3rd Air Divisions are despatched. Mission Summary follows:
1st Air Division: 129 B-17s from: 303BG; 351BG; 379BG; 384BG; 401BG; and 457BG are despatched. 117 aircraft are effective on V-Weapon sites at Wizerneas and Watten, France. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 6KIA 4POW. 1 aircraft made forced landing in France but was later returned to England and salvaged at 1st Strategic Arms Depot at Troston, UK on 22-Apr-44 - 10RTD. 74 aircraft are damaged. 1 airman aboard a returning aircraft was WIA. There are no other losses, casualties or claims in this element.
3rd Air Division: A combined force of 64 B-17s from: 95BG; 100BG; and 390BG are despatched. 56 are effective on the V-Weapon site at Marquise/Mimoyecques, France. There ar no aircraft losses, but 14 are damaged. 1 airman in a returning aircraft is WIA. There are no othr losses, casualties or claims in this element.
V-1 MISSILE SITES
B-17 Flying Fortress
457th BG MISSION NO 15 - WATTEN, FRANCE
19 MARCH 1944
Twenty-four aircraft carried out a No Ball Mission to Watten, a large and important German anti-invasion fortification under construction twelve miles inland from Calais. This facilityWas considered to be one of the oldest and best developed, and possibly the most important structure of this type in the Pas-deCalais area. Major Hoffman was Air Commander and Lt. Bender was pilot.
There was no wing assembly. The Group flew west ofthe briefed course and all craft missed the target. Heavy antiaircraft fire was encountered and thirteen planes were damaged but only one seriously.This was a Sunday afternoon mission. The Group was not alerted until noon, did not take off until 1615, and returnedat 2000. It was a quiet day over the Continent. Only 193 bombers were dispatched to western France.
(Compiler 's Note: Though the site of an important anti invasion fortification, the hamlet of Walton was not shown on1944 French maps and is the subject of various spellings in mission reports.)
Group
The 457th Bomb Group began combat operations during the Big Week of 20-25 February when American bombers carried out concentrated raids against German aircraft bases, factories and assembly plants. The air crews' targets on that first mission were...
| Tonnage dropped | 0.00 |
V-1 MISSILE SITES
B-17 Flying Fortress
V-weapon sites are targeted. Groups participating are part of 1st Bomb Division. No bomber gunner claims.
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Group
The 351st Bomb Group flew strategic bombing missions from their base at Polebrook, Northamptonshire from April 1943 to June 1945. The Group's most famous member was Hollywood actor Clark Gable, who flew four/ five missions with them as an observer...
Group
The 379th Bomb Group (H) (heavy), based at Kimbolton, flew more sorties than any other Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force and dropped a greater bomb tonnage than any other Group. The B-17 Flying Fortress Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit...
Group
The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by...
Group
The 401st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, from November 1943 to June 1945. Starting their missions at that time meant the focus was very much on the coming invasion attempt of France planned for the following...
Group
The 457th Bomb Group began combat operations during the Big Week of 20-25 February when American bombers carried out concentrated raids against German aircraft bases, factories and assembly plants. The air crews' targets on that first mission were...
| Tonnage dropped | 343.98 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 129 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 117 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 74 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 6 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 4 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 100th Bomb Group
B-17G#42-31968 'Miss Irish' returned from a mission to Marquise/Mimoyecques, Fance and made an emergency landing at Raydon after taking a direct hit from an 88mm in the radio room on 19 March 1944. Returned To Duty (RTD). Shot down by Flak on the...
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 51
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down by flak burst and crashed N of St Pol, FR on a mission to Wizernes, FR on 19 Mar 1944 in B-17G #42-31926 'Lovell's Hovel'. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Tail Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 51
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 412BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. 25 x combat mission. Loren Seger crew. ETD
Awards: AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 100th Bomb Group
B-17G#42-31968 'Miss Irish' returned from a mission to Marquise/Mimoyecques, France and made an emergency landing at Raydon after taking a direct hit from an 88mm in the radio room on 19 March 1944. RTD. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 15220.
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Right Waist Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down by flak burst and crashed N of St Pol, FR on a mission to Wizernes, FR on 19 Mar 1944 in B-17G 42-31926 'Lovell's Hovel'. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Radio Operator | 390th Bomb Group
Frank Bobrowicz was Radio Operator on board B-17 #42-39819, hit by Flak on return from the 13 April 1944 mission to Augsburg, Germany. Ditched in the Channel/North Sea, about 18km West of the entrance to the port of Ostend, Belgium. Killed In Action ...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down by flak burst and crashed N of St Pol, FR on a mission to Wizernes, FR on 19 Mar 1944 in B-17G #42-31926 'Lovell's Hovel'. Killed in Action (KIA).
Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Clusters; Purple Heart
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Flight Engineer | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 51
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned to the 359BS/303BG [BN-R] Bangor 22-Sep-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42; First 8th Air Force aircraft to complete 50, then 75 missions- 27-Mar-44; with M/Sgt Buford Pafford as crew chief; 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 5-Jun-44; Reconstruction Finance...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-G] Presque Is 27/11/42; Molesworth 13/12/42; Returned to the USA 2/7/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Arledge 22/11/44. IZA VAILABLE.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 15/9/43; Scott 20/10/43; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-K] Deenethorpe 11/11/43; Missing in Action Kassel 28/9/44 with Ed Aves, Co-pilot: Clayton Crunk, Navigator: Ralph Mezydlo, Bombardier: John MacDougall, Flight engineer/top turret...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 17/9/43; Gt Falls 28/9/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-K] Deenethorpe 26/10/43; Missing in Action Politz 7/10/44 with Tom Hill, Wilbur Schmedel, Theo Block, Junius Chadwick, Jim Mullins, Vic Shewbert, Ed Hellenbeck, Buddy Keith, Omer...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 2/12/43; Kearney 17/12/43; Romulus 6/1/44; Kearney 7/1/44; Memphis 9/1/44; Presque Is 10/1/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-B] Deenethorpe 31/1/44; 134m crash landed Polebrook 22/4/44, Salvaged 1 SAD Troston. FANCY NANCY IV.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 31/12/43; Kearney 12/1/44; Assigned 570BS/390BG [DI-H] Framlingham 19/2/44; aircraft suffered oxygen fire while on assembly for Boulogne mission 4/6/44 with Leroy Holmberg, Co-pilot: George Benton, Navigator: Ellis McClintick,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 6/1/44; Kearney 15/1/44; Romulus 23/1/44; Grenier 25/1/44; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-J] Horham 2/2/44; transferred 412BS [QW-J]; 98m, with S.D. Reed, force landed RAF Coltishakk, 8RTD, 1WIA; Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 21/6/44;...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 11/1/44; Savannah 21/1/44; Morrison 2/2/44; Assigned 350BS/100BG [LN-D] Thorpe Abbotts 3/2/44. Battle-damaged by Flak South of Calais, France on the 19 March 1944 mission to Mimoyecques, France. 19/3/44 with Pilot John P. Gibbons, Co...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 6/12/43; Kearney 26/12/43; Nutts Corner, Belfast, N.I. 14/1/44; Assigned 525BS/379BG [FR-L] Kimbolton 29/1/44; Missing in Action Berlin 24/5/44 with Capt Lytle Shumake, Co-pilot: George Smith, Navigator: Regis Savage, Bombardier:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Long Beach 26/8/43; Scott 25/10/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG Molesworth 11/10/43 as BABY LU III; transferred 612BS/401BG [SC-A] Deenethorpe 14/11/43; transferred 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 8/4/44; (?with Roger Bishop from Keesler 22/2/45?)...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 01 February 2018 00:41:53 | TennyBelle | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
8th AF Database |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 February 2016 17:40:22 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 29-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 May 2015 14:01:45 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Updated pin location |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 May 2015 14:00:38 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Mission detail added courtesy of Diane Reese - http://www.457thbombgroup.org/Narratives/ma15.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:12 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham, 8th Air Force missions research database / Stan Bishop's 'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces', the Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces and the work of Roger Freeman including the 'Mighty Eighth War Diary'. |
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